STAFF WRITER
Nigerian billionaire, Aliko Dangote has confirmed plans to build a fuel refinery and pipeline at Walvis Bay connecting to landlocked Zimbabwe.
The Business tycoon met Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday and signed a global memorandum of understanding with the government of that country laying the foundation for potential future investments.
“I have just signed various agreements between Zimbabwe and the Dangote group to deal with various sectors, some of which in mining, some which in cement and some of it in oil.
“As you know I have the largest refinery in the world in Nigeria. We want to bring it to Walvis Bay. There are a couple other investments that we are looking at. These investments count at hundreds of millions of dollars or billions we will tell you when we finish. But it is probably a billion because of the pipeline,” Dangote told Zimbabwean state owned broadcaster., the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
Dangote is not new to Zimbabwe. His Dangote group was involved in an unsuccessful campaign between 2015 and 2018.
Commenting on the meeting on his official facebook page Mnangagwa said :”I received a Nigerian businessman and investor, Mr Aliko Dangote, who is in Zimbabwe to explore investment opportunities across key sectors. Following our discussions, Zimbabwe and the Dangote Group signed a global agreement focusing on energy, cement, fertiliser, and infrastructure development. This partnership reflects growing investor confidence in Zimbabwe’s economic transformation agenda.
“A major highlight is the regional oil refinery and pipeline project originating from Walvis Bay, Namibia, which will traverse several SADC countries, including Zimbabwe. The pipeline will enhance regional energy security and support industrial growth.”
COMMENTS